Load maneuvering

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to maneuver a load includes a set of uprights including a set of legs extending generally vertically upward and a set of arms extending from the legs in an adjustable manner. A set of rollers supports the legs to facilitate rolling of the apparatus over the ground. The load is suspendible within a space between the arms, and the uprights are adjustably movable in a direction toward one another to maneuver the load. The apparatus also may include a set of adjustable links extending between at least two uprights of the set of uprights, wherein the set of adjustable links aid in adjusting the uprights between angled and substantially upright positions. The apparatus may be a hoist for raising or lowering a hard top from a vehicle, wherein the apparatus straddles a vehicle hard top. A method is also disclosed and claimed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to hoist apparatuses and methods and,more particularly, to straddle-type hoists and related methods.

BACKGROUND

Users of vehicles such as off road vehicles are confronted with the taskof manually removing or attaching a hard top as desired. A hard top isoften large and heavy, and the manual removal or attachment of a hardtopis a task that requires more than one person.

However, it is not unusual that a user of a vehicle, such as an off roadvehicle, is travelling alone. It follows that there are times when auser of a vehicle, such as an off road vehicle, may desire to remove orattach the hardtop of his or her vehicle at a time when he or she istravelling alone.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure includes anapparatus to maneuver a load, including a set of uprights including aset of legs extending generally vertically upward and a set of armsextending from the legs in an adjustable manner, and a set of rollerssupporting the legs to facilitate rolling of the apparatus over theground, wherein the load is suspendible within a space between the arms,and the uprights are adjustably movable in a direction toward oneanother to maneuver the load.

Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure includes amethod to maneuver a load. The method includes providing a set ofuprights including spacing a set of front legs laterally apart from oneanother to extend in a generally vertical direction, and spacing a setof rear legs laterally apart from one another and longitudinally fromthe set of front legs to extend in a generally vertical direction. Themethod also includes coupling a set of front arms to the set of frontlegs in a generally vertically adjustable manner, and coupling a set ofrear arms to the set of rear legs in a generally vertically adjustablemanner. The method further includes providing a set of rollers tosupport the front and rear legs to facilitate rolling of the apparatusover the ground, suspending a load in a space between the arms, andadjustably moving the uprights in a direction toward one another tomaneuver the load.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of one or more of the disclosed embodiments ofthis disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artfrom the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments andthe claims, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus ofFIG. 1, illustrating an arm coupled to a leg;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus ofFIG. 1, illustrating an adjustable link coupled to a leg;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in use with anoff road vehicle;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of a portion of theapparatus of FIG. 4, and illustrating a coupling of the apparatuscoupled to a mount of the off road vehicle;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of a portion of theapparatus of FIG. 4, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and illustratingthe coupling coupled to the mount of the off road vehicle;

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 4, and illustrates directions of movement ofvarious portions of the apparatus when removing a load; and

FIG. 8 is similar to FIGS. 4 and 7, and illustrates the direction ofmovement of the apparatus once the load has been detached from the offroad vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, an apparatus to maneuver a load will be described using oneor more illustrative embodiments. The present disclosure provides anapparatus to allow a single individual to manually remove or attach, forexample, a hard top from a vehicle. The example embodiments will bedescribed with reference to their use in a vehicle environment. However,it will be appreciated as the description proceeds that the invention isuseful in many different applications and may be implemented in manyembodiments.

Referring specifically to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 4 perspectivelydepict an illustrative embodiment of an apparatus 10 for raising orlowering a load 12 (FIG. 4). The apparatus 10 includes a set ofuprights, which may include a set of legs 14 extending generallyvertically upward and a set of arms 20 extending from the legs 14, forexample, in an adjustable manner. The apparatus 10 also includes a setof rollers 28 supporting the legs 14 to facilitate movement of theapparatus 10 over the ground. The load 12 is suspendible within a spacebetween the arms 20, and the load 12 is raised or lowered by generallypulling together or releasing pairs of legs 14 within the set of legs14. In one embodiment, the apparatus 10 may be a hoist for raising orlowering a hard top from a vehicle, wherein the apparatus 10 straddles avehicle hard top.

Structurally, the set of legs 14 may include two or more legs 14 thatare spaced apart to surround the load 12 on either side thereof andwherein the legs 14 extend generally vertically. For the purpose of thisdisclosure, the terminology “generally vertically” and “upright” mayinclude orientation at an angle between 45 degrees and 90 degrees,inclusive, and including all ranges and subranges therebetween. Forexample, each upright of the set of uprights and each leg 14 may make anangle with the ground between 45 degrees and 90 degrees with respect tothe ground and may be measured interior to the apparatus 10. Referringto the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, the set of legs 14 includesfour legs at four corners of the apparatus 10, and the set of legs 14includes a set of two front legs 16 spaced laterally apart from oneanother and a set of two rear legs 18 spaced laterally apart from oneanother and longitudinally from the set of front legs 16. The legs 14,as shown, may include telescoping, cylindrical tubes. In otherembodiments the legs 14 may be bars, solid rods, non-cylindrical tubes,or any other structure that is capable of directly or indirectlysupporting the arms 20 and the load 12, wherein the legs 14 may be madeof metal, plastic, carbon fiber, or any other suitable material. It isalso possible that each leg includes a leg assembly, composed ofmultiple parts coupled and/or telescoped together. FIG. 1 illustratesone possible leg assembly.

The set of arms 20 may include two or more arms 20 that extend from thelegs 14 in an adjustable manner. In one embodiment, as depicted in FIG.1, the set of arms 20 includes only four arms 20 coupled to four legs14, wherein the legs 14 are at four corners of the apparatus 10.Further, the arms 20 may extend generally vertically with the legs 14.The set of arms 20 may include, as shown in FIG. 1, a set of two frontarms 22 spaced laterally apart from one another, and a set of two reararms 24 spaced laterally apart from one another and longitudinally fromthe set of front arms 22. The arms 20, as shown in illustrativeembodiments, may include telescoping, cylindrical tubes. In otherembodiments the arms 20 may be bars, solid rods, non-cylindrical tubes,or any other structure that is capable of coupling to the legs 14 anddirectly or indirectly supporting the load 12, wherein the arms 20 maybe made of metal, plastic, carbon fiber, or any other suitable material.It is also possible that each arm 20 include an arm assembly composed ofmultiple parts coupled and/or telescoped together.

The arms 20 may be coupled to the legs 14 by locking members 22. In oneembodiment, the arms 20 are telescoped with respect to the legs 14 anddetachedly secured by locking members 22, as depicted in FIG. 2. Thelocking members 22 may be lock pins, screws, nails, bolts, or any otherdevice(s) capable of coupling the arms 20 with the legs 14. Toaccommodate different load heights, the arm 20 is adjustable in lengthand may slide into or out of the leg member 14 to which it is coupledbefore being secured by the locking member 22. Referring to FIG. 2, thiscan be done using telescoping tubes whereby a tube of the leg 14 and atube of the arm 20 are secured at the desired height with the lockingmember 22.

The set of rollers 28 may include two or more rollers 28 coupled to andsupporting the legs 14 to facilitate movement of the apparatus 10 overthe ground. In one embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, the set of rollers28 includes four rollers 28 coupled to the four legs 14 at the end ofthe leg 14 disposed nearest the ground or floor. The rollers 28 may bemade of caster wheels or any other rollable device capable of beingmounted to the legs 14 and of easily moving the apparatus 10.

The apparatus 10 also may include a set of adjustable links 30 extendingbetween at least two uprights of the set of uprights, for example,between at least two legs 14 of the set of legs 14 for the purpose ofdrawing the uprights, for example, the legs 14, along each side of theapparatus 10 in a direction toward one another. In the illustrativeembodiment of FIG. 3, the apparatus 10 includes adjustable links 30extending between each rear leg 18 and corresponding front leg 16. Inone embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, the set of adjustable links 30includes two links, spaced laterally apart from one another on eitherside of a longitudinal axis L, and coupled to and extending between eachfront leg 16 and corresponding rear leg 18. The adjustable links 30 mayinclude turnbuckles, as depicted in FIG. 3, spreader bars, ratchetedstraps, or any other device(s) capable of easily extending orcompressing the distance between the two legs 14 to which the adjustablelink 30 is connected. The adjustable link 30 may attach to the legs 14by a coupler 34, for example, a weldment, lock pin, screw, nail, bolt,an/or other suitable coupling.

The apparatus 10 also may feature a set of supports, end-effectors, orcouplings 36 extending from, continuous with, or coupled to the arms 20.The couplings 36 may be spaced longitudinally apart from one another oneither side of a transverse axis T. The couplings 36 may include,shafts, tubes, bars, or any other structure suitable to directly orindirectly support the load 12. In one embodiment, the couplings 36extend in a direction toward the load 12. To accommodate different loadwidths, the couplings 36 may be adjustable in length.

In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 5, the couplings 36 may includesolid or hollow shafts that may be fixed to the arms 20, for example,via welding, fastening, press-fit, or the like. In another embodiment,the couplings 36 may be telescoped to the arms 20 in a generallyhorizontally adjustable manner, for example, in a direction parallel tothe transverse axis T. Further depicted in FIG. 4, the couplings 36extend from the four arms 20 in the four corners of the apparatus 10, ina direction toward the load 12, wherein the couplings 36 between thefront arms 22 may be disposed longitudinally parallel to the couplings36 between the rear arms 24.

The couplings 36 may be directly or indirectly coupled to the load 12using any arrangement suitable to suspend the load 12. In the embodimentof FIG. 1, the couplings 36 are adjustably coupled to a set of loadmounts 42, wherein the set of load mounts 42 are spaced longitudinallyapart from one another between the two front 22 and two rear arms 24.The set of couplings 36 may be telescoped with respect to the set ofload mounts 42, as in FIG. 4, or otherwise coupled to the load mounts 42in a manner that allows the length of the coupling 36 to vary in orderto accommodate loads of varying widths. In one embodiment, the loadmounts 42 may be coupled to brackets 38, by welding or other permanentor non-permanent securing means, and the brackets 38 may be coupled tothe top of the load 12 using a set of fasteners 40, which may includerivets, or nuts and bolts as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, or any othersuitable fasteners. In other embodiments, the couplings 36 may comprisesuction cups to suction to the top of the load 12 to hold it, or hookscapable of hooking to complementary portions of the load 12 to suspendthe load 12, or any other device(s) suitable to couple the couplings 36to the load 12.

In assembly, a user may retrieve the apparatus 10 from storage, such asthe rear of a vehicle. If the leg 14 is a leg assembly, the user mayconnect the leg portions together. Where the leg 14 is a leg assembly,the leg assembly may be connected in a telescoping manner and be securedwith the locking member 26, for example, one or more lock pins, screws,bolts, or any other suitable coupling(s). In other embodiments, the legassembly pieces may twist or otherwise fit together, and the lockingmember 26 may be unnecessary.

The legs 14, when assembled, will be positioned off the ground in aslightly angled position, wherein the angle formed between the groundand each leg may be generally less than 90 degrees, measured interior tothe apparatus 10. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the angle isbetween 45 degrees and 75 degrees. To lower the load 12, the legs 14initially may be positioned at a nearly upright position, wherein theangle formed between the ground and each leg may be approximately 90degrees, measured interior to the apparatus 10. In one embodiment, theangle is between 70 and 90 degrees.

At the end of the legs 14, closest to the ground or floor, the user mayattach the rollers 28. In another embodiment, the legs 14 may be fixedto the rollers 28 without requiring assembly.

At the other end of the legs 14 opposite the ground or floor, the usermay couple the set of arms 20 to the set of legs 14. As in FIG. 2, theuser may connect the arms 20 to the legs 14 in a telescoping manner andsecure them with the locking member 26, such as lock pins, screws, orbolts. In other embodiments, the arm 20 may twist or otherwise fittogether with the leg 14, and the locking member 26 may be unnecessary.In another embodiment, the user may couple the arms 20 directly to theload 12 using any appropriate combination of tubes, bars, brackets,nails, screws, lock pins, nuts, bolts, suction devices, hooks, and/orany other device(s) capable of coupling the arms 20 to the load 12.

A user also may couple the set of adjustable links 30 to the legs 14using any appropriate locking coupler 34, such as lock pins, screws, orbolts. In accordance with the illustrated embodiments, a user may alsocouple the adjusting device 32 to the rest of the adjustable link 30.

A user may couple the arms 20 to a set of couplings 36. Referring toFIG. 1, the couplings 36 are couplings extending continuously from thearms 20 in a telescoping manner. In other embodiments, the arms 20 maytwist or otherwise fit together with the couplings 36, or may be weldedto the couplings 36, or may extend integrally therefrom, such that afastening device is unnecessary.

Referring to FIG. 5, a user may couple the couplings 36 to the loadmounts 42 in a telescoping manner. In other embodiments, the couplings36 may couple to the load 12 without the use of the load mounts 42. Insuch embodiments, the user may secure the couplings 36 to the load 12using any appropriate combination of tubes, bars, brackets, nails,screws, lock pins, nuts, bolts, suction cups, hooks, and/or any otherdevice capable of coupling the apparatus 10 to the load 12.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the order of theassembly may be varied. Moreover, to disassemble the apparatus 10, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that, after the load 12 is detached,the components previously assembled may be disassembled in a similar,yet reverse, fashion.

In operation, and with reference to FIG. 4, to raise the load 12, a usermay roll or otherwise move the apparatus 10 to a position that straddlesthe load 12. The load 12 may be coupled to the apparatus 10 directly orindirectly via the couplings 36. Referring to FIG. 5, the couplings 36may connect to the load mounts 42. With reference to FIG. 7, to raisethe load 12, the set of legs 14 includes two front legs 16 and two rearlegs 18, and the load 12 is suspended within a space laterally betweenthe arms 20. In other embodiments, dependent on the size of the load 12,the load 12 may be suspended within a space laterally between both thearms 20 and the legs 14. In one embodiment, the arm length may beadjusted to accommodate the height of the load 12, and the coupling orcoupling length may be adjusted to accommodate the width of the load 12.In the illustrated embodiments, the arms 20 and couplings 36 are pulledout of or pushed into each other as telescoping tubes, and the lockingmembers 22 are inserted to sustain the tubes at the desired length. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 7, the couplings 36 may be inserted into themounts 42 on the load 12, and the user may turn the turnbuckle 32.

As the turnbuckle is turned, the legs 14 coupled to the adjustable links30 are drawn toward one another. The set of adjustable links 30 aids inadjusting the legs 14 between angled and substantially uprightpositions. In FIG. 7, each front leg 16 is pulled toward itscorresponding rear leg 18. In other embodiments, a user may similarlyoperate the adjustable link 30 in such a way that draws the legs 14together to maneuver (e.g., raise or lower) a load 12. As the adjustablelink 30 is tightened, the angle formed between the ground and each leg14, measured interior to the apparatus 10, will approach 90 degrees. Asthe angles increase through toward 90 degrees, the load 12 is raised offof the vehicle. The apparatus 10 can then be rolled away as depicted inFIG. 8, and the load 12 removed and unloaded 12 from the apparatus 10.

To lower the load 12 off of the apparatus 10, a user performssubstantially the opposite steps as required to raise the load 12. Auser may roll or otherwise move the apparatus 10 to a position thatstraddles the location to which the load 12 is to be unloaded. The usermay operate the adjustable link 30 in a manner to draw apart the legs 14coupled to each adjustable link 30. As the adjustable link 30 isloosened, the angle may generally diminish from between 70 and 90degrees to between 45 and 75 degrees, for example. As the angledecreases, the load 12 is lowered to sit on the vehicle or otherdestination. The load 12 can then be unloaded, and the apparatus 10rolled away, disassembled, and placed in the vehicle.

Finally, the foregoing description is not a definition of the invention,but is a description of one or more examples of illustrative embodimentsof the invention. The statements contained in the foregoing descriptionrelate to the particular examples and are not to be construed aslimitations on the scope of the invention as claimed below or on thedefinition of terminology used in the claims, except where terminologyis expressly defined above. And although the present invention has beendisclosed using a limited number of examples, many other examples arepossible and it is not intended herein to mention all of the possiblemanifestations of the invention. In fact, other modifications,variations, forms, ramifications, substitutions, and/or equivalents willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoingdescription. The present invention is intended to embrace such forms,ramifications, modifications, variations, substitutions, and/orequivalents as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the followingclaims. In other words, the present invention encompasses manysubstitutions or equivalents of limitations recited in the followingclaims. For example, the materials, sizes, and shapes, described abovecould be readily modified or substituted with other similar materials,sizes, shapes, and/or the like. Therefore, the invention is not limitedto the particular examples of illustrative embodiments disclosed herein,but instead is defined solely by the claims below.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a set of uprights including a set of legsextending generally vertically upward, and a set of arms extending fromthe legs in an adjustable manner; and a set of rollers supporting thelegs to facilitate rolling of the apparatus over the ground, wherein aload is suspendible within a space between the arms, and the uprightsare adjustably movable in a direction toward one another to maneuver theload.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a set ofadjustable links extending between at least two uprights of the set ofuprights to move the uprights toward one another.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the adjustable links include turnbuckles extendingbetween and coupled to at least two legs of the set of legs to move thelegs toward one another.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprisinga set of couplings extending from or coupled to the arms.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4, wherein the couplings include tubes.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the rollers include caster wheels.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the legs include tubes.
 8. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the legs are a leg assembly.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the arms include tubes.
 10. A mobile hoist for removinga load from a vehicle, and comprising: a set of front legs spacedlaterally apart from one another, and extending in a generally verticaldirection; a set of rear legs spaced laterally apart from one anotherand longitudinally from the set of front legs, and extending in agenerally vertical direction; a set of front arms spaced laterally apartfrom one another, and coupled to the set of front legs in a generallyvertically adjustable manner; set of rear arms spaced laterally apartfrom one another and longitudinally from the set of front arms, andcoupled to the set of rear legs in a generally vertically adjustablemanner; and a set of rollers supporting the front and rear legs tofacilitate rolling of the hoist over the ground, wherein a load issuspendible by the hoist in a space between the arms, and the legs areadjustably movable in a direction toward one another to maneuver theload.
 11. The hoist of claim 10, further comprising a set of adjustablelinks spaced laterally apart from one another, and coupled to andextending between the front and rear legs.
 12. The hoist of claim 11,wherein the rollers include caster wheels, the legs include tubes, thearms include tubes telescoped with respect to the legs, and theadjustable links include turnbuckles.
 13. The hoist of claim 10, furthercomprising a set of couplings carried by the arms and coupled to theload.
 14. The hoist of claim 13, wherein the set of end couplingsadjustably couples to a set of load mounts coupled to the load, whereinthe set of load mounts is spaced longitudinally apart from one another,and the set of end couplings is telescoped with respect to the set ofload mounts.
 15. The hoist of claim 10, wherein the hoist is aself-supporting, traversable, height adjustable, straddle-styleapparatus.
 16. The hoist of claim 10, wherein the arms are detachedlyconnected to the legs by removable lock members.
 17. The hoist of claim10, wherein the hoist is used for removing or attaching a hard top froma vehicle, the set of legs includes two front leg assemblies and tworear leg assemblies at four corners of the hoist, the set of armsinclude two front arms telescoped to the set of front legs and two reararms telescoped to the set of rear legs, and the set of rollers includefour caster wheels.
 18. A method to maneuver a load, the methodcomprising: providing a set of uprights, including: spacing a set offront legs laterally apart from one another, to extend in a generallyvertical direction, and spacing a set of rear legs laterally apart fromone another and longitudinally from the set of front legs, to extend ina generally vertical direction; coupling a set of front arms to the setof front legs in a generally vertically adjustable manner; coupling aset of rear arms to the set of rear legs in a generally verticallyadjustable manner; providing a set of rollers to support the front andrear legs to facilitate rolling of the apparatus over the ground;suspending a load in a space between the arms; and adjustably moving theuprights in a direction toward one another to maneuver the load.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising coupling a set of adjustablelinks to at least two of the legs.
 20. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising coupling a set of couplings to the arms in a direction towardthe load.